Filter apparatus with pulse cleaning and methods for pulse cleaning filters

Abstract

A method of pulse cleaning filter media in panel, cylindrical, conical, or V-pack style filter in an opening of a tubesheet is provided. The method includes directing a fluid pulse at the filter media at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening of the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of the filtration flow through the filter media. An air cleaner is provided including a housing including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior. A tubesheet is in the housing interior having a plurality of openings. In the plurality of openings of the tubesheet are mounted filters with filter media. There is a plurality of blow pipes, with each blow pipe being pointed to direct at a fluid pulse a respective one of the filters at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening in the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of filtration flow through the respective filter media.

1. An air cleaner comprising:
 (a) a housing including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior; 
 (b) a planar tubesheet in the housing interior having a plurality of openings in the same plane as the tubesheet; 
 (c) a plurality of panel-style filters, each filter being mounted in a respective one of the openings in the tubesheet and having a flow face generally parallel to the plane of the tubesheet; each of the filters being mounted in the respective one of the openings to permit air to flow through the flow faces in a straight flow through direction; and 
 (d) a plurality of blowpipes mounted to the housing and spaced from the panel style filters; each blowpipe being oriented to direct a centerline of a fluid pulse at a respective one of the filters at an angle that is:
 (i) not normal to the plane of the openings in the tubesheet; and 
 (ii) not in line with the direction of filtration flow through the respective filters; and 
 
 (e) wherein the blowpipes are spaced no more than 10-40 times of an inside diameter of the blowpipe from the tubesheet. 
 
     
     
       2. The air cleaner of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the tubesheet is vertically oriented; and 
 (b) the blowpipes are mounted to the housing at an angle in an upward direction relative to the vertical direction of the tubesheet. 
 
     
     
       3. The air cleaner of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the panel style filter includes media of one of Z-media, pleated media, depth media, HEPA media, or mini V-pack media. 
 
     
     
       4. The air cleaner of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) an accumulator arrangement oriented adjacent to the openings in the tubesheet on a downstream side of the tubesheet. 
 
     
     
       5. The air cleaner of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) the accumulator arrangement includes a plurality of plates oriented adjacent to the openings in the tubesheet. 
 
     
     
       6. The air cleaner of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) the accumulator arrangement includes, for each opening in the tubesheet, a first and second plate adjacent to opposite ends of the tubesheet opening. 
 
     
     
       7. The air cleaner of  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the first plate is mounted at a first angle relative to the tubesheet, the first angle being within about 85° of a center line of a direction of the pulse; and 
 (b) the second plate is mounted at a second angle relative to the tubesheet, the second angle being within about 85° of a center line of a direction of the pulse. 
 
     
     
       8. The air cleaner of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) a total length of the first plate and second plate added together is no longer than twice of a length of the respective opening in the tubesheet. 
 
     
     
       9. The air cleaner of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) a length of the first plate about 300% of a length of the respective opening in the tubesheet. 
 
     
     
       10. The air cleaner of  claim 4  wherein:
 (a) the panel style filter includes media of one of Z-media, pleated media, depth media, HEPA media, or mini V-pack media.